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Running with Scissors
Running with Scissors
Author: Augusten Burroughs
Running with Scissors is the true story of a boy whose mother (a poet with delusions of Anne Sexton) gave him away to be raised by her psychiatrist, a dead-ringer for Santa and a lunatic in the bargain. Suddenly, at age twelve, Augusten Burroughs found himself living in a dilapidated Victorian in perfect squalor. The doctor's bizarre family, a f...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780312283704
ISBN-10: 0312283709
Publication Date: 7/10/2002
Pages: 304
Rating:
  • Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
 179

3.6 stars, based on 179 ratings
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback, Audio Cassette, Audio CD
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

PinkyMac avatar reviewed Running with Scissors on + 15 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 57
This is definitely an R rated book. There are explicit homosexual sex scenes, language and drugs. Even though the writing was excellent with well defined characters and it flowed in an easy pattern, it was too graphic and the humor too dark for me. I will not be looking for another book by Augusten Burroughs.
MaskedPenguinAvenger avatar reviewed Running with Scissors on + 12 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 50
Funny, witty, caustic. I almost don't want to repost it because I'm sure I'll want to read it again. While it's harsh and full of vulgarity, I don't feel that it detracts from the story.
bookaddict avatar reviewed Running with Scissors on
Helpful Score: 45
Found this one humourous but somewhat self-indulgent and a bit disturbing. The writing style didn't particularly "flow" for me--I think there are much better "bad childhood memoirs" out there: the Lauck books, the Glass Castle, "Falling Leaves", "Angela's Ashes".

For a VERY humourous (not abusive) childhood memoir written in a much more dynamic and absorbing style, read "Devil in the Details" by a different author.

I just didn't like this book much, and didn't find much redeeming or profound about any of the people in it, including the author.
reviewed Running with Scissors on
Helpful Score: 28
I hated this book and was unable to finish it. Well written but a real downer story about some people who have no business being around children, much less raising them. Maybe there is some great revelation at the end or something but it was just too depressing for me to wade through.
reviewed Running with Scissors on
Helpful Score: 27
I couldn't even finish this book. It is definitely not one that I would recommend to anyone.
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Hewette avatar reviewed Running with Scissors on + 67 more book reviews
Dark and disturbing. A child's out of control upbringing. It is amazing there is anything close to a happy ending.

I liked that this book presents to our youth that there are opportunities to succeed despite a dysfuntional background and lack of a cookie cutter education.
hollyrocks avatar reviewed Running with Scissors on + 11 more book reviews
it is amazing what we can adapt to, and then what can pull us back into our own little orbit. manipulate or be manipulated. there must be more to life than this.
reviewed Running with Scissors on + 7 more book reviews
This book was absolutely fabulous. The story of a boy whose mother is mentally ill, and how they both get sucked up into the even crazier world of her psychiatrist and his family. The mother, somewhat detached and unnurturing towards him, sends him off to live with her psychiatrist and his family, where he gets into all sorts of crazy situations as he breaks society norms, explores his homosexuality, and truly finds himself. It's bizarre, it's humorous, it's Life. A great read!
BNJunkie avatar reviewed Running with Scissors on + 28 more book reviews
I prefer the Glass Castle when it comes to dealing with disfunctional families... this is not my kind of humor. I felt horrible for the author, who I guess deals with his past as best he can.
reviewed Running with Scissors on + 3 more book reviews
Moving...
reviewed Running with Scissors on + 23 more book reviews
Read this book a few years ago for book club. Was told it was "funny". Kept waiting for it to get funny but only found it to be disturbing and pathetic. For me, the only thing interesting was where it took place since I went to college in that area and at the same time the story took place. Agree with the reviewer who said it was worthless. I threw the book away when I returned home from book club. Couldn't even recommend it to any one.
reviewed Running with Scissors on
Great book, couldn't put it down! Worth the read!
reviewed Running with Scissors on + 16 more book reviews
Fantastically horrifying and funny. If you haven't read Burroughs, now is the time to start.
reviewed Running with Scissors on + 4 more book reviews
I couldn't finish this book. Very sexually graphic...not funny at all...if the sections I read are true, most of the characters should be arrested for the parts they played in this young man's life. Quite disturbing.


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Tagsmemoir